I'm writing this on June 7, the day after some observed the 78th anniversary of the D-Day invasion at Normandy in 1944, and two days after some observed the 54th anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy's assassination in 1968.
I paused to observe both and noted how little mention both anniversaries received in national and local media. I was disappointed with President Biden for failing to acknowledge either date, making him the first American president in the last 78 years to make no mention of the D-Day invasion on the important date.
I was in elementary school when Bobby was killed, but I can recall the television coverage of the incident and the following newspaper headlines. D-Day observations were a part of life for decades, marked not only remember those who participated in the invasion, but also celebrated for marking the start of the ground offensive that would liberate Nazi-occupied Western Europe.
June 5 and June 6 are landmark dates, worthy of observation and reflection.
At least they were. It seems today both dates have lost their significance to many Americans, including the president. A few commentators have suggested reasons for this. Some offered good points, others were a bit wild in their reasoning.
I won't go on at length about it or attempt a deep analysis of it all. I'm simply disappointed that so many either do not understand the historical significance of both dates, or just don't care.
A nation and a culture loses much when it fails to acknowledge or care about its history.
-- Thank you for reading. Comments are always welcome. Leave one here or email me at kbottterman@gmail.com.
